What can we – as dental practitioners and advocates – really do to tackle the social and commercial determinants of health? And is it even our role to do so. In the previous episode of the Dental As Anything podcast I argued that poor oral health was as much a social issue as it was a dental issue. In this episode we explore some of these social issues, focusing on poverty and income equality, and look at the impact of unconditional cash transfers in improving health and wellbeing.

Is poor oral health a dental issue or a social issue? Is the solution to reducing increasing rates of tooth decay and periodontal disease found within the four walls of the dental clinic, or is there a need to step back and consider this as a social problem as well?

In this episode of Dental As Anything, I talk about the inverse care law, how that plays out in the maldistribution of the oral health workforce, and the important role dental practitioners have in tackling the social causes of dental disease.

Artificial intelligence tools are expanding into all areas of health practice, and clinical notes provide an opportunity for efficiencies - but it's important to be aware of the risks.

In this episode I speak to Bree Jones from Melbourne University about the use of artificial intelligence in writing health records. What does it mean to summarise information? How accurate will that AI summary mean? Do you know the best way to ask the right questions to ensure the most accurate summary - a skill known as prompt engineering. Is there a risk of bias in the way that AI tools interpret information? And importantly, what are some of the legal ramifications.

If you are considering using AI tools to assist with your clinical notes (or you are already doing so), then this is a must listen episode.

You wouldn't invest in tobacco companies, but would you invest in fast food and sugary drinks, knowing the harms they cause?

In this episode of Dental As Anything I pose the question of whether health practitioners should invest in companies that cause harm and contribute to the stream of patients coming through our doors. Should making greater investment returns come at the expense of public health? Does this blur the lines between our personal and professional identities?

There are many parallels between the pressure cooker environment of the MasterChef kitchen and a dental practice. So it shouldn't be surprising that there are valuable lessons that could be useful. Although it’s been nearly 10 years since I was on the show, it sometimes feels like it was just yesterday. I often reflect on the experiences over that 5 month period – because the more I look back, the more I realise how much the lessons from the MasterChef kitchen have helped to influence and shape who I am today.

In this episode of Dental As Anything, I share some of the life lessons that I learned on the show that I have found to be particularly valuable.

The somewhat controversial issue of tongue ties hit the media last week, with a newspaper article highlighting some harrowing patient stories and the boom in popularity of the tongue tie release procedure.

In a span of only 30 years, the cost of a dental education has gone from zero to anywhere from $60,000 to $430,000. With inflation running hot over the past few years, many graduates are seeing their debt increasing. Fortunately a recent budget decision will provide some relief for those with an outstanding student debt.

This week Matt discusses these recent changes to HECS indexation, the need for further reform and the impact of increasing student debt on the dental profession.

Dental personnel have a long history of ensuring that the members of our Army, Navy and Air Force have good oral health. ANZAC Day is an opportunity to reflect on their service.

In this episode of the Dental as Anything podcast I speak to Dr Amanda Leen about her experiences as a dentist in the Royal Australian Army Dental Corps. Amanda joined the Army as an undergraduate dental student, and served as a dental officer at 1 Brigade in Darwin and 1 Health Support Battalion in Holsworthy. She is now an orthodontist practising in Geelong.

Being a competent dental practitioner is about much more than just surgical skills, and it is important that we focus more broadly on our role as physicians of the mouth.

Dental education, like any form of education, is a beginning and not an end. It starts the journey, equipping graduates with knowledge and skills that can then be built on, and indeed must be built on, over time. It also equips them to adapt as the profession changes and adapts.

This week Matt talks about the issues of dental education, professional identity and what it means to be a dentist.

There have been many dire predictions of an oversupply of dentists over the past decade, but do we in fact have too many dentists? Let's find out in this episode of the Dental As Anything podcast, where Matt discusses the issues of workforce supply and demand. This is particularly relevant as advocacy ramps up in the push to increase government funding for dental programs such as a Senior Dental Benefits Scheme.